A DEAD kitten was among three unwanted cats found dumped overnight on the doorstep of a Stockton vets.

Now the Cats Protection charity is trying to rehome the surviving adult cat and kitten, and has appealed to cat owners not to discard any unwanted animals so recklessly.

The cats were found on Wednesday morning outside Vets4Pets, on Durham Road, by receptionists Claire Merrin and Louise Arundell as they arrived for work.

The two older cats, the three-year-old mum and a 12-week-old kitten, were inside a carry case for cats, but the youngest, four-week-old kitten was in a cardboard box.

Claire told the Gazette: “It beggars belief. If it had been put in with its mother it would have had a fighting chance of survival. The poor little thing was riddled with fleas. It either died of anaemia or hypothermia.

“Why couldn’t they have brought them before we shut? We were open until 7.30pm.”

She added: “Even if they’d just put the older cat in that box by itself and the kittens together it might have survived.”

The surviving cats, the tortoiseshell mum and her black and white, female kitten, have been named Dora and Muffin by staff at the veterinary practice.

Cats Protection Teesside has taken the animals into its care.

Patricia Eddon, from the charity, said pets can become a problem if their owners are suddenly evicted or move into private accommodation where their new landlord won’t let them keep animals.

But she added: “If people can’t find space for their cats it doesn’t mean they can leave them in boxes outside vets.

“I have no doubt these people were desperate, but to leave them outside where anything could have got hold of them – they have no idea. Vets are not rehoming centres – they need to contact people like ourselves.”

In 2008, as reported, a dog rehoming charity also saw an increase in abandoned pets with 35 dogs to rehouse in one week. Bosses blamed the credit crunch for forcing desperate owners to get rid of their animals.

If you can give Dora and/or Muffin a good home call Patricia on 01642 589090.